Combination of thidiazuron and basal media with low salt concentrations increases the frequency of shoot organogenesis in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

A successful, efficient system for multiple soybean shoot induction of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is reported. Multiple shoots were induced from cotyledonary nodes and hypocotyl segments cultured on media supplemented with 2 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ) or 1.15 mg/l benzyladenine (BA). It was found that TDZ induced adventitious shoots more efficiently than BA and that hypocotyl segments promoted more adventitious shoots than cotyledonary nodes. The optimal TDZ concentrations for shoot organogenesis from hypocotyl segments were between 1 and 2 mg/l. Basal media also influenced the efficiency of shoot organogenesis. The frequency of adventitious shoot formation tended to increase when the salt concentration in the basal media supplemented with 2 mg/l TDZ was reduced. Two media (1/2B5 and 1/2L2) stimulated shoot organogenesis efficiently from hypocotyl segments. This method can thus be advantageously applied in the production of transgenic soybean plants. Received: 3 July 1996 / Accepted: 9 May 1997